Wind, Waves & Whales

Let's stop a moment to study the ocean. Winds far at sea create the energy that produces swells on the ocean surface. As the swells approach the shore, they drag on the sea bottom and tip over as breakers. The breakers continuously erode the beaches, rocks and cliffs, reducing California's size by hundreds of acres every year. The heaviest erosion occurs during the high surfs created by winter storms. Land always loses when the sea attacks.

Pigeon Point is a good spot to look for gray whales during their winter migrations from the Bering Sea to Baja California, and their return north with their calves in early spring. Harbor seals constantly forage around the point. Elephant seals, sea otters, sea lions, dolphins and humpback whales often pass by. The point is also a sea-bird watcher's paradise. Over 50 species have been spotted in the area. Western and California gulls, brown pelicans, cormorants, murres, spotted sandpipers and sanderlings are most frequently observed.